How to Write Publishable Qualitative Research

Iterative categorisation (IC) (part 2): interpreting qualitative data

“…CASP [57], COREQ [58], RATS [59]), qualitative researchers can compound their own marginalisation by failing to provide adequate accounts of how exactly they managed and analysed their data. This can hinder the ability of novice qualitative researchers to learn from the work of others and potentially undermines the credibility of qualitative science in the eyes of readers, editors and reviewers [1]. The value of IC is that it offers qualitative researchers a set of procedures to guide them through analysis to publication, leaving a clear audit trail [3].…”

“…When describing their analytical approach, the researcher always needs to be transparent [1,2], but also often concise given the restricted word limit of many journals. Within the methods section of their paper or report, the researcher should explain the key IC stages and processes followed in as much detail as possible.…”

“…The analysis of qualitative data within addiction science and research more broadly is often poorly explained [1–3]. In 2016, Addiction published ‘Iterative Categorisation (IC): a systematic technique for analysing qualitative data’ within its Methods and Techniques series [2].…”

“…This paper has now been cited by qualitative researches working across a range of disciplines, and the technique has been demonstrated in talks and workshops internationally. Although qualitative analytic procedures are difficult to standardise, and there are multiple legitimate ways to undertake the analysis of qualitative textual data [1–4], IC offers researchers a rigorous and transparent step‐by‐step approach that increases the trustworthiness and potential reproducibility [5–7] of research findings. As the momentum for open science continues [8], accessibility and clarity are important for all methodological approaches in addiction science and beyond.…”

A review of qualitative research in Drug and Alcohol Review

“…Currently, there is no journal dedicated exclusively to qualitative research in the field alcohol and other drugs, and qualitative research makes up a minority output of publications across alcohol and other drug journals [1]. In this relatively small research field, it can be difficult to find referees who are experts in both a particular content area and qualitative research methods [2]. Consequently, the Drug and Alcohol Review Editorial Board recently expanded the number of managing editors with expertise in qualitative methods from three to five.…”